The Devils Gambit

-Chapter VII-

 "The Werewolf games are a demonstration of strength and endurance," Brii smiled and put her book down, "Like a Spartan race on steroids, but with one big difference. It plays heavily on the bond between two wolves. Normally it's couples, twins, or blood brothers."

"Clyde being the quarblood and Cashel the only full werewolf must've been a culture shock to them," Josh guessed.

"Quite the contrary, Al was seen as an honored participant because of his bloodline. It was Cashel they second guessed."

"But why? Cashel is a pure blood werewolf and decorated soldier, why would they second guess him?"

"He never mentioned why," Brii scratched her head, "He always just said they were a bunch of old guards who didn't understand the struggles of the modern army. But, I digress. They were skeptical to let Cashel participate; Alban however, talked to them and let him participate. Together they fell, they rose, they fought, they lost some and they won some."

Brii laughed going through the photos, "When they got to age they left and joined the service. Clyde joined uncle's company and Cashel joined the Mythicals Guardian Hound division."

"They must've gotten along great for a friendship to last as long as it did."

"They did but not for the reasons you think."

Josh gave Brii a confused look, "I don't understand."

Brii laughed and looked back at the photo of her cousin, friend, and mystery woman, "They were polar opposites. Where Al improvised, Cashel was strategic. Where Cashel was organized and methodical, Al rode the lighting like a wild Stallion. Cashel was a rock, immovable and uncompromising..."

"... And Clyde was always looking for another option."

"Called it, 'Finding door number three.' They disagreed and fought a lot, but no matter how hard they fought, they always learned something new from each other."

"Such a great couple," Niki joked.

The three of them laughed, "They were even closer family than brothers could ever be. Neither Heaven or Hell could come between them, and God help whoever did. As easily as they would move mountains for each other, they'll scorch the earth beneath them to avenge one another."

---

Fast as I could I ran to the gate, behind us in the church, angry spirits warped the grounds to push the gate further and further the closer we got.

Swinging my arm upward like a southpaw uppercut, cel's jumped to action from our shadow. Extending my arm forward they propelled us forward faster than the spirits could keep up with. Once we reached the gate back to camp, I turned back. Enraged, I stared into the blackened windows where I knew Yiskah watched me, and held out a finger, pointing straight at her. From our own, dozens of hostless shadows besieged the church. I held out my hand, open as to tell my subject 'Hold.' As quick as my hand closed, the building crumbled as the shadows brought it down piece by piece until even the foundation was gone.

"Bring it down," I shouted and watched the cel's I summoned spread across the ground, spreading up the church walls and began ripping it apart from the bell tower to the foundation, until nothing remained..

I turned around and rushed back to camp, and set Cashel down near the fire.

"Tara," I called, "Tara!"

"Hold your horses Shadow I'm com... Oh my God Cashel!"

She whipped the door of her tent out of the way and knelt next to her fiance, "Oh my God Cashel what happened, how did this happen?"